More conversations with a (now) 6-year-old

Scene: Lily is seeking vainly to get her sister's attention by using numerous silly gestures.

Jessica (to me): "Pathetic."

Me: "Jessica - do you know what 'pathetic' means?"

Jessica: "No mommy - what does it mean?"

Me: (scrambling) "Well, it means doing anything to get attention, even if it makes you look bad."

Jessica eyes her sister again, who is oblivious to our conversation and is still gesticulating wildely in a vain attempt to get Jess to notice her

Jessica: "Yep, pathetic."


###

On a kinder, gentler note, an unexpected declaration while lying in bed with Lily as she goes to sleep.

Lily: (turning to me with adoration in her eyes) "Mommy, your kisses are like honeysuckle in the field of love."

Me: (speechless - but repeating the line over and over in my head so I won't forget to write it down for posterity)

So I guess I'm raising a cynic and a poet.